Beauty of Joseon Greentea Calming Serum Versus iUNIK Beta Glucan Power Moisture Serum

Beauty of Joseon Greentea Calming Serum Versus iUNIK Beta Glucan Power Moisture Serum

This calming serum is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.

This hydrating serum is formulated around Beta-Glucan and Adenosine to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Ingredients Side-by-side

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

Panthenol

Water

Methylpropanediol

Pentylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Betaine

Carbomer

Phenoxyethanol

Xanthan Gum

Zinc PCA

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Tromethamine

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Allantoin

Polyquaternium-51

Sodium Hyaluronate

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Ethylhexylglycerin

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Dextrin

Theobroma Cacao Extract

Tocopherol

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Water, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Zinc PCA, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tromethamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Tocopherol

Adenosine

Sodium PCA

Beta-Glucan

Sodium Polyacrylate

Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Adenosine, Tromethamine, Sodium PCA, Carbomer, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Polyacrylate

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.

Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.

It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.

Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.

A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Tromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.

It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.

This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.

Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

Similar Comparisons